Is this ideology meant just to instill discipline in students or it is implemented elsewhere? On what grounds can a student who, for instance, makes Second Class upper grade be awarded a First class? On what ground can a student who makes Second Class Lower be denied it and be awarded, for instance, a Third class? What dangers are likely to arise with in implementing this ideology in this continuous assessment era?
Education, assessment
‘‘A degree is not earned; it is awarded’’ What is your view on this statement?
From the perspective of a student, a degree is earned based on the efforts s/he has put in & the result. There are open measurements to grade a student performance. From the perspective of a university, it is not wrong as it has the rights to award degree to deserved students.
‘‘A degree is not earned; it is awarded’’ What is your view on this statement?
A university is a grooming institution that does not just train students to attain academic scores. It is mandated to personally shape the student to be a better and full member of the society. Thus, it does not lose its guard on making students aware that they need to be disciplined and kowtow to the rules and regulations of the institution. Thus, one can academic attain the measurement (scores) that merits a particular grade in the university, yet, the university has the right to award the certificate or not. That is how come certificates are sometimes later withdrawn when the university realizes that unethical practices resulted in the attainment of the academic score. A well-trained university product is a well trained complete person not just in academics but morally. The statement is to ingrain in the minds of learners not to just swim (learn) anyhow to attain the fishes (academic scores and laurels) in the academic sea (university) but to do so legally with all the fishing rules and regulations (following all ethical principles) well observed. Best regards
Dickson Adom
Hello Dennis. I feel that I wanted to answer your question with a question of my own - What prompted you to ask it? For me the statement sets up an inappropriate binary distinction. A university degree is both earned AND awarded. It is earned through cumulative hard work and evidencing achievement of specified learning outcomes and assessment criteria, submitted in varied, relevant, discipline-appropriate contexts. I feel humbled each year when I attend graduation events representing the culmination point of years of effort and commitment.
However, It is awarded because 'earning' a degree through endeavour alone is not enough. Universities have the autonomy to devise, maintain, and monitor certain quality standards. An award of a particular degree - at whatever level - is a public affirmation that a student has consistently demonstrated defined disciplinary qualitiies, relevant conceptual understanding, relevant skills, and relevant personal dispositions and qualities such that a degree is merited. To this extent universities are gatekeepers of their 'awards'. But what do others think?
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